Proverbs 22; Proverbs 23

1A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold.2The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD is the maker of them all.3Sensible people foresee trouble and hide [from it], but gullible people go ahead and suffer [the consequence].4On the heels of humility (the fear of the LORD) are riches and honor and life.5A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him. Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them.6Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it.7A rich person rules poor people, and a borrower is a slave to a lender.8Whoever plants injustice will harvest trouble, and this weapon of his own fury will be destroyed.9Whoever is generous will be blessed because he has shared his food with the poor.10Drive out a mocker, and conflict will leave. Quarreling and abuse will stop.11Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously has a king as his friend.12The LORD's eyes watch over knowledge, but he overturns the words of a treacherous person.13A lazy person says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be murdered in the streets!"14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit. The one who is cursed by the LORD will fall into it.15Foolishness is firmly attached to a child's heart. Spanking will remove it far from him.16Oppressing the poor for profit [or] giving to the rich certainly leads to poverty.17Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people, and set your mind on the knowledge I give you.18It is pleasant if you keep them in mind [so that] they will be on the tip of your tongue,19so that your trust may be in the LORD. Today I have made them known to you, especially to you.20Didn't I write to you previously with advice and knowledge21in order to teach you the words of truth so that you can give an accurate report to those who send you?22Do not rob the poor because they are poor or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city gate,23because the LORD will plead their case and will take the lives of those who rob them.24Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, and never keep company with a hothead,25or you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself.26Do not be [found] among those who make deals with a handshake, among those who guarantee other people's loans.27If you have no money to pay back a loan, why should your bed be repossessed?28Do not move an ancient boundary marker that your ancestors set in place.29Do you see a person who is efficient in his work? He will serve kings. He will not serve unknown people.

1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, pay close attention to what is in front of you,2and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.3Do not crave his delicacies, because this is food that deceives you.4Do not wear yourself out getting rich. Be smart enough to stop5Will you catch only a fleeting glimpse of wealth before it is gone? It makes wings for itself like an eagle flying into the sky.6Do not eat the food of one who is stingy, and do not crave his delicacies.7As he calculates the cost to himself, this is what he does: He tells you, "Eat and drink," but he doesn't really mean it.8You will vomit the little bit you have eaten and spoil your pleasant conversation.9Do not talk directly to a fool, because he will despise the wisdom of your words.10Do not move an ancient boundary marker or enter fields that belong to orphans,11because the one who is responsible for them is strong. He will plead their case against you.12Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge.13Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If you spank him, he will not die.14Spank him yourself, and you will save his soul from hell15My son, if you have a wise heart, my heart will rejoice as well.16My heart rejoices when you speak what is right.17Do not envy sinners in your heart. Instead, continue to fear the LORD.18There is indeed a future, and your hope will never be cut off.19My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction20Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat,21because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags22Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old.23Buy truth (and do not sell it), [that is,] buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.24A righteous person's father will certainly rejoice. Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him.25May your father and your mother be glad. May she who gave birth to you rejoice.26My son, give me your heart. Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.27A prostitute is a deep pit. A loose woman is a narrow well.28She is like a robber, lying in ambush. She spreads unfaithfulness throughout society.29Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?30Those who drink glass after glass of wine and mix it with everything.31Do not look at wine because it is red, because it sparkles in the cup, because it goes down smoothly.32Later it bites like a snake and strikes like a poisonous snake.33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mouth will say embarrassing things.34You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea or like someone lying down on top of a ship's mast, saying,35"They strike me, but I feel no pain. They beat me, but I'm not aware of it. Whenever I wake up, I'm going to look for another drink."